Valentine’s Day might be over, but as the extra school work piles up, an extra dessert treat can be a great reward for all of your hard work. On that note, here’s a great cupcake recipe for the days you need a really, really good pick-me-up. Nutella, anyone?
The Cupcake
Vanilla cupcakes work best in this recipe because the Nutella icing is so rich. First, gather the ingredients:
½ cup butter, softened
½ plus 1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
2 extra large eggs
½ plus 2/3 cup self-rising flour
1 tsp baking powder
4 tbsp milk
Preheat the oven to 350oF. Line a cupcake pan with 12 cupcake liners. Put the butter, sugar, and vanilla in a mixing bowl, and whisk until pale and fluffy–this typically takes 3 to 5 minutes. Add the eggs and mix well. Sift in the flour and baking powder, and then stir in the milk. Spoon into the lined cupcake pans. Bake for twenty minutes.
The Frosting
Nutella frosting is surprisingly easy to make! You will need:
An 8oz package of cream cheese (room temperature)
¾ stick of butter (room temperature)
3 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
Approximately ½ cup Nutella
In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Slowly sift in the confectioners’ sugar, and mix until there are no lumps. Add the vanilla and whisk well. Lastly, add the Nutella. I would suggest about a ½ cup, but add it slowly. Taste the frosting as you add the Nutella–when it tastes good, you’re done!
The Filling
This part is extra–if you really, really love Nutella and the icing simply isn’t enough, you can also fill the inside of your cupcakes with Nutella. I have a tool for this (approximately $3.00 at Bed, Bath, and Beyond), but you can also do this with a small, sharp knife. Cut a small circle out of the middle of the cupcake; make sure you don’t cut all the way to the bottom. Take out the part you cut, and save it. Fill the opening in your cupcake with Nutella. Then, cut the cylinder of the cupcake you took in half, and place the top half back into the cupcake.
You’re done! Enjoy the treats!